Ok, got Windows all set up with an example "hello world" - compiles just great... not the foggiest idea what to do with the pins on the demo board. On the ESP8266 we have to attach 3v3 to 3v3, gnd to gnd, serial in and out - and ground GPIO0 temporarily to program.. So what is the equivalent on the ...

I can think of many including myself who have no desire to work under Linux. Here's hoping the fellow who did such an excellent job developing the unofficial development environment for ESP8266 which works excellently using Eclipse and Windows, continues his good work. Perhaps we should ask him!